Foreclosure prevention, voting bills pass House Judiciary Committee

Philip Marcelo

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 7:36 PM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state House of Representatives will consider legislation requiring banks and lenders to meet with home owners "in good faith" to try to rework the terms of a mortgage prior to foreclosing on a property, following passage of th

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state House of Representatives will consider legislation requiring banks and lenders to meet with home owners "in good faith" to try to rework the terms of a mortgage prior to foreclosing on a property, following passage of the bill Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

Some Rhode Island cities and towns have already adopted so-called "mortgage conciliation programs," including Cranston, Providence, Warren and Warwick. But past attempts to create a statewide requirement have failed in the legislature.

The Judiciary Committee also approved a bill that eliminates the requirement that voters have to be physically present in the building at the 8 p.m. closing of polls. Voters would be entitled to vote so long as they are in line to vote - even if it is outside of the building.

The committee also took up a host of other proposals dealing with campaign finance requirements. But those were held for further study after no one from the public testified on any of the proposals.

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